"Hey, Bells, let's go out to eat together." My dad called as I entered the door. I was tired and had a ton of homework that I wanted to get out of the way, but maybe it would be a good thing to get to know him.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go."

….

"Wow, Bella, you've gotten so big."

"I remember you from when you were three or four."

"How's your mom?"

"Still like chocolate cake?"

"You've got to come around more."

We were at a small restaurant where everyone knew my dad and remembered me from before my mom ran off with me. I answered their questions with the bare minimum, a nod or a quiet, "Yeah."

Dad sort of asked me about school, had I made friends. I tried to keep myself from sounding like an ass, so I said, "Yeah. Everyone's pretty cool."

He didn't ask anything else, instead just talked about fishing and sports games. I tried to follow but I just wasn't into it. I missed home, with my group of friends who loved me and stuck up for me, made me laugh. I didn't have that here. Well, except for Alice.

….

"I'm going to kidnap you Saturday." Alice fell into step beside me as we walked to the cafeteria.

"Huh?"

"My mom planned a big family dinner. A bunch of my cousins and aunts, uncles, grandparents, the whole shebang. So, you're coming to keep me sane."

"And if I have other things to do?"

"Then I'll be terribly lonely and my day will suck."

I teased her, "And what do I get out of it?"

" Food, my undying gratitude, and the chance to meet my family."

"Fine." I smiled and we ate lunch together, laughing louder than we probably should have.

….

I drove on the dirt road into the woods. I hated this road, out in the middle of nowhere. I'd only been up here a few times to pick Alice up. The house still stunned me, huge and white, bigger than three of or four of my dad's house.

I knocked on the door. A beautiful woman with caramel hair answered, "Hello, dear, you must be Bella."

"Hey," I smiled, "You're one of Alice's cousins?"

She laughed and let me in, "I like you already. I'm her mom."

"BELLA!" a flash of purple raced towards me and hugged me, "Thank God you're here, they're trying to kill me."

I hugged her back and she led me towards the living room where people were gathered. I tugged at my Evanescence T-shirt and wished I had dressed a little nicer. Alice kept her hand in mine, "You look beautiful." I blushed a hundred shades of red.

"Everyone, this is Bella." Alice announced.

A big bear of a guy grinned, "Maybe now that you're here, Alice will shut up about you."

A blond girl slapped him on the chest, "Be nice."

Alice introduced everyone to me. I forgot their names as soon as she said them, but that didn't really matter. I loved the banter that went around the room, everyone lightly picking on each other. Emmett, the big guy laughed at me, "I saw you nearly trip when you came in."

Alice giggled, "If she doesn't trip five hundred times a day, something's wrong."

Another one of Alice's cousin's, a bronze haired guy was getting ready to say something when Esme, Alice's mom called, "Dinner!"

Alice took my hand again and I told her, "Your family's pretty cool. Why'd you want me here?" I teased.

She shrugged, "I like having you around."

...

Everyone please review, I'd like to know what you think of the story.